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We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs January 23 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Cabinet Approves Continuation of Atal Pension Yojana till 2030-31In January 2026, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the continuation of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) up to Financial Year 2030-31 (FY31) along with extension of funding support for promotional and developmental activities and gap funding.
About Atal Pension Yojana (APY):
Purpose: The Government of India (GoI) launched the APY on 9th May 2015 to create a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector. The Scheme is being implemented with effect from 1st June 2015.
Administration: The APY is administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under the overall administrative and institutional architecture of the National Pension System (NPS).
Age Criteria: The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years (Yrs) and maximum age is 40 Yrs.
Guaranteed Pension Amount: Each subscriber under APY shall receive a Central Government guaranteed minimum pension ranging from Rs. 1000 per month to Rs. 5000 per month, after the age of 60 years until death.
Progress: As of 19th January, 2026, APY has enrolled more than 8.66 crore (Cr) subscribers, emerging as a key pillar of India’s inclusive social security system.

• PSBs have dominated enrolments, accounting for approximately 70.44% of total subscriptions, whilst RRBs contributed 19.80%.

Implementation Strategy: The scheme will continue up to FY31 with Government support for:

• Promotional and developmental activities to expand outreach among unorganised workers, including awareness creation and capacity building.
• Gap funding to meet viability requirements and ensure the sustainability of the scheme.

>>Read Full News

Union Cabinet Approves Rs. 5,000 Cr Equity Infusion to SIDBI for MSMEsOn 21st January 2026, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved an equity infusion of Rs 5,000 crore into the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to expand credit availability for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and support employment generation.

SIDBI Equity Infusion Plan:
Infusion: The equity capital of Rs 5,000 crore will be infused into SIDBI by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF), in three distinct tranches in Financial Year (FY) 2026-2028.

• Tranche 1: Rs 3,000 crore in FY 2025-26 at a book value of Rs 568.65 per share (as of 31st March 2025).
• Tranche 2: Rs 1,000 crore in FY 2026-27 at the book value as of 31st March 2026.
• Tranche 3: Rs 1,000 crore in FY 2027-28 at the book value as of 31st March 2027.

MSME Growth: Financial assistance will grow from 76.26 lakh MSMEs in FY25 to 1.02 crore by FY28, adding 25.74 lakh units, generating 1.12 crore new jobs, while 6.90 crore existing MSMEs have created 30.16 crore jobs (as of 30th September 2025).
Capital Adequacy: The equity infusion will help maintain SIDBI’s Capital to Risk-weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) above 10.50% under stress and 14.50% under Pillar 1 and 2 norms, protect its credit rating, and provide a higher capital cushion as directed credit and venture debt increase Risk-weighted Assets (RWAs).
Support: The new capital will enable digital and collateral-free lending, support venture debt to startups with higher RWAs, and allow SIDBI to raise resources at fair rates, passing lower interest benefits to MSMEs.
About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)- Manoj Mittal
Headquarters – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Established – 1990

Overview of 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference Held in Lucknow, UPIn January 2026,  Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh (UP), inaugurated the 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC 2026),  at the UP Vidhan Sabha, in Lucknow, UP.

• The AIPOC 2026, held from January 19 to 21, 2026, marked UP’s fourth time hosting the conference, after 1961, 1985, and 2015.

Highlights of the 86th AIPOC:
Theme: The AIPOC 2026 was held under the theme titled “Strong Legislature-Prosperous Nation”.
Participation: The event witnessed the participation of 36 Presiding Officers from 24 States and Union Territories (UTs), marking the largest AIPOC.
Adoption of six key resolutions:

• Viksit Bharat 2047: All presiding officers resolved to re-dedicate themselves to conduct the proceedings of their respective Legislatures in ways that contribute to the national goal of a developed India by 2047.
• Legislative Sittings per year: All political parties, State legislative bodies, should hold at least 30 sittings annually, and legislative time effectively to ensure accountability to the people.
• Technology: Agreed to strengthen the use of technology to make legislative work easier, more transparent, and more citizen focused.
• Leadership and Democracy: To continue strong leadership to deepen and strengthen democratic traditions.
• Capacity Building: To support the capacity building of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), particularly in using digital technologies and research for effective participation.
• National Legislative Index: Create a benchmark to assess and improve legislative performance and accountability.

>>Read Full News

NITI Aayog Releases Three Reports on Green Transition in Cement, Aluminium, and MSME sectorsOn January 21, 2026, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, policy think tank of the Government of India (GoI), released three reports, which are roadmaps for the green transition and decarbonization in sectors such as cement, aluminium, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

• The reports outline strategies to reduce emissions and adopt green technologies, in alignment with GoI’s goal of Net Zero by 2070.

Key Highlights of the Roadmaps on Decarbonization:
Cement Sector: Cement production is expected to rise from 391 million tonnes (MT) in 2023 to about 2,100 MT by 2070. Its production contributed about 6% of India’s emissions in 2023. The report suggests reducing the carbon intensity of cement sector from 0.63 to around 0.09-0.13 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) per tonne of cement.
Aluminium Sector: Aluminium output is projected to grow from 4 MT to 37 MT by 2070. The sector accounts for about 2.8% of India’s total GHG emissions (around 83 MTCO2e) in 2023 and without interventions.

• The aluminium sector roadmap proposes a phased transition shifting to Renewable Energy-Round the Clock (RE-RTC) by 2030, adopting nuclear power during 2030–2040, and integrating CCUS with captive generation beyond 2040, if required.

MSME Sector: MSMEs contribute about 30% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employ over 250 million people, and account for 46% of exports.The roadmap for MSMEs recommends deployment of energy-efficient equipment, adoption of alternative fuels, and integration of green electricity to drive the green transition.
>>Read Full News

GeM and WTC Mumbai Sign MoU to Strengthen MSME Participation in Public Procurement
In January 2026, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and MVIRDC (M. Visvesvaraya Industrial Research and Development Centre) World Trade Centre Mumbai (WTC Mumbai) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote domestic and international collaboration and enhance Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) participation in public procurement.

• The partnership aims to boost GeM’s global presence and promote inclusive opportunities for startups, women entrepreneurs, and smaller enterprises.

Key Details of MoU :
Collaboration: The MoU created a formal collaboration framework between the two institutions, with emphasis on supplier development, capacity building, and access to international markets.
Focus: Global outreach through webinars, buyer–seller meets, trade fairs, and onboarding of international suppliers on the GeM platform.
Key Areas: Policy dialogue on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sustainable procurement, global training programmes, supplier readiness frameworks, and international outreach through WTC networks.
Governance: Establish a Joint Working Group to oversee implementation and ensure alignment with GoI policies.
Impact: Support Ease of Doing Business, empower MSMEs under Atmanirbhar Bharat, and advance Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

DIBD Signs MoU with Survey of India for Toponymic Data DigitisationIn January 2026, the Digital India BHASHINI(BHASHa INterface for India) Division (DIBD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Survey of India (SoI) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology(MoS&T) to digitise, transcribe, and standardise geographical place names (toponyms) across India using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based speech and language technologies.

• The MoU aims to enhance the development of accurate, multilingual, and standardised toponymic datasets in accordance with the National Geospatial Policy, 2022.

About SoI–BHASHINI Collaboration:
Support: The initiative supports the accelerated development of the National Geographical Name Information System (NGNIS) by digitising and standardising geographical names at scale.
Key Roles: SoI, as the national nodal agency, is responsible for the standardisation and maintenance of geographical names through large-scale toponymic field surveys conducted in local vernacular languages.

• The DIBD will deploy BHASHINI’s AI-powered indigenous language tools to convert vernacular audio recordings into validated, structured digital text, creating a comprehensive Toponymy Database of over 16 lakh locations.

Technology: The project uses AI, Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), and language processing workflows for transcription, normalisation, and validation of geographical names.
Toponymy: The initiative will create a validated database of over 16 lakh Indian place names in local scripts, Devanagari, and Roman formats, ensuring accurate pronunciation and regional variations, fully aligned with the Survey of India Toponymy Manual (SITM) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standards.
Governance: The standardized datasets, powered by language AI, will strengthen India’s geospatial systems enhancing OSM (Open Series Maps), DM (Disaster Management), IP (Infrastructure Planning), and CCG (Citizen-Centric Governance) making DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure) more inclusive, efficient, and linguistically representative.
About BHASHINI (BHASHa INterface for India) :
Bhashini is an Indian government project under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) that helps people translate content between different Indian languages to make communication easier across the country.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Ammitabh Nag
Established – 2022

CGCA Links SAMPANN Pension Portal with UMANG for DoT Pensioners
On January 21, 2026, The Office of Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA) has linked its System for Administering Multi-purpose Pension Accounts and New Norms (SAMPANN) pension management system with the Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UNMANG)platform, benefiting nearly 4 lakh Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pensioners.

• This integration allows seamless access to Pension Payment Order (PPO) numbers and Life Certificate (LC) validity via the UMANG app or web portal, eliminating office visits.

Digital Enhancements UMANG services complemented by recent DigiLocker integration highlight CGCA’s focus on prompt, transparent pension access. This reduces visits and boosts Digital India goals.
About SAMPANN Portal: The SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) Pension Portal, developed by the Office of the Controller General of Communication Accounts, is a comprehensive online pension management system for the DoT pensioners.
About UMANG: It is a single platform available as a mobile app and web portal for Central, State, and Local government services, launched in 2017 as part of the Digital India initiative.

• It was developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD).

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India Ranks Sixth in Asia Manufacturing Index 2026
In January 2026, the third edition of the Asia Manufacturing Index (AMI 2026), released by Hong Kong-based advisory firm Dezan Shira & Associates, showed that India retained its 6th rank among 11 Asian countries, underscoring the need for stronger reforms and faster execution.

• China maintained the 1st position leading in economy, workforce, and international trade, followed by Malaysia in 2nd place and Vietnam in 3rd place.

About Asia Manufacturing Index (AMI) 2026:
AMI: It is conducted annually to evaluate the manufacturing competitiveness of major Asian economies.

• Assesses eight key pillars: Economy, Political Risk, Business Environment, International Trade, Tax Policy, Infrastructure, Workforce, and Innovation.

Insights of India: India’s strengths lie in its large domestic market, improving infrastructure, and expanding workforce, whereas its weaknesses include slower execution, policy instability, and limited innovation capacity.
Other Country Rankings: Singapore ranked fourth, while South Korea placed fifth. Indonesia secured the seventh position, followed by Thailand at eighth. Japan ranked ninth, the Philippines tenth, and Bangladesh eleventh.

WEF’s Global Risks Report 2026: Geoeconomic Confrontation Emerges as the Biggest Global ThreatIn January 2026, the World Economic Forum (WEF) published the 21st edition of its annual risk assessment, titled ‘Global Risks Report: 21st Edition Insight 2026’. As per the report, the top global risks are geoeconomic confrontation, state-based conflict, extreme weather, social protection gaps, and misinformation.

• The 2026 global risks outlook is marked by pervasive uncertainty.
•  Extreme weather has dropped from 2nd place to 4th place in the two-year outlook, but remains the most severe long-term (10-year) risk.

About Global Risks Report 2026:
Source: The report is based on insights from the Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS), which gathers input from over 1,300 global leaders and experts, covering a list of 33 key global risks.

• The report also used the WEF’s Executive Option Survey (EOS 2026) to identify risks that pose the most severe threats to each country over the next two years.

Key Components: GRPS 2025-26 featured 4 key components, including risk landscape, consequences, risk governance, and outlook.
Key Time Horizons: This annual edition of the report examines global risks across 3 time horizons i.e. immediate (2026); short-to-medium term (to 2028) and long term(2036), revealing a reprioritisation of threats in the near future.
Top Risks in Long Term: The report highlighted that extreme weather events emerged as the most significant risks in the long term (up to 2036); followed by biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse (2nd); critical change to earth systems(3rd); misinformation and disinformation (4th)and adverse outcomes of AI technologies (5th), among others.
Key Risks Faced by India :The report has identified cyber insecurity as the major risk faced by India; followed by other risks which include inequality (wealth, income); insufficient public services and social protections (such as: education, infrastructure, pensions); economic downturn (recession and stagnation); and state-based armed conflict (proxy wars, civil wars, terrorism etc.)
>>Read Full News

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Issues Guidelines on Interest Subvention for Export Credit under Niryat ProtsahanIn January 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued operational guidelines for extending interest subvention on pre and post-shipment export credit under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) – NIRYAT PROTSAHAN (1st Component).
NIRYAT PROTSAHAN – Interest Subvention Component
Objective: To facilitate improved access to pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) exporters by reducing the cost of such credit.
Eligible Institutions: The RBI has directed all All Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCB) (excluding Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)), Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCB), State Co-operative Banks (StCB), All-India Financial Institutions (AIFI) to extend the benefit strictly to eligible exporters.
Eligible MSMEs: All MSME manufacturer exporters and merchant exporters holding a valid active Importer Exporter Code (IEC) and a valid MSME Udyam Registration Number (URM) shall be eligible to receive interest subvention support.

• The interest subvention will be applicable only to exports covered under a notified positive list of tariff lines at the Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) six-digit level.

>>Read Full News

RBI Notifies New FEMA Rules for Exports and Imports to Take Effect from October 01, 2026In January 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the ‘Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026’ under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA), introducing uniform timelines and enhanced monitoring requirements for trade‑related foreign exchange transactions.

• These regulations will supersede the Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods & Services) Regulations, 2015 and are set to take effect from October 1, 2026.

Key Provisions:
Reference: It has been mandated that all references to RBI must be routed via the Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation and Authorisation (PRAVAAH) portal, and any doubtful transactions must be reported to the Directorate of Enforcement(ED) under the Ministry of Finance(MoF).
Declaration of Exports: As per new rules, an exporter of goods is required to submit a declaration in the Export Declaration Form (EDF) to the specified authority.
Reporting Timelines: Authorized Dealer (AD) banks have been mandated to enter EDF details for goods exported through non-EDI ports into the Export Data Processing and Monitoring System (EDPMS) within 5 working days of receipt.
Norms for Service Exports & Imports: For service exports, RBI has mandated banks to upload exporter-submitted EDF details into EDMPS within 5 working days of receipt from the exporter.
Export Realization Timeline: The new rules have specified that the export proceeds must be realized and repatriated within 15 months of shipment or invoice, while exports invoiced and settled in Indian Rupees (INR) must be realized within 18 months.
Reporting of Remittances: As per new FEMA regulations, all inward and outward remittances linked to exports, imports, and merchanting trade transactions must be reported in EDPMS and/or IDPMS.
Monitoring by AD Banks: RBI has empowered the AD banks to monitor all transactions in EDPMS and IDPMS for closure of outstanding entries.
>>Read Full News

RBI Grants In-Principle Approval to Payoneer India as PA-CB
In January 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted in-principle approval to Payoneer India Private Limited, a subsidiary of United States of America(USA)-based Payoneer Global, to operate as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border (PA-CB), enabling it to facilitate cross-border payment transactions for Indian importers and exporters.

About Payoneer PA-CB Approval:
Operations: Payoneer India will enable end-to-end inward and outward cross-border payment transactions, allowing Indian exporters to receive overseas funds and importers to make international payments.
Objective: The approval aims to enable Indian businesses, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups, to access global markets and scale international trade operations.
Key Criteria: Non-bank entities must obtain RBI authorisation, maintain a net worth of Rs.15 crore initially (Rs.25 crore by year three), adhere to a Rs.25 lakh per-transaction limit, and keep separate accounts for imports and exports with no netting.

Fintech Firm ZET Received NPCI Approval to Launch UPI Payments on RuPay Credit Cards
In January 2026, credit-focused Indian fintech firm ZET secured the approval from National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to operate as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP).

• This marks a major step for the company in integrating its credit card functionalities into the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system.

Key Details:
Launch of ZET UPI: After securing approval from NPCI, the fintech company launched ZET UPI which will enable users to make UPI payments/transactions using RuPay credit cards issued through its platform.
Supported by: The service is enabled via a banking partnership with RBL Bank, formerly known as Ratnakar Bank Limited and is powered by Juspay’s technology infrastructure for transaction processing.
Benefits: Apart from existing credit card-linked rewards, the credit users of ZET who have an active subscription plan will be eligible to avail the cashback benefits on UPI transactions.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Deepinder Goyal Resigns as CEO of Eternal Group; Albinder Dhindsa to Take OverIn January 2026, Deepinder Goyal resigned as the Director, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eternal Limited which is the parent company of food delivery platform “Zomato” and commerce delivery arm Blinkit, with effect from February 1, 2026.

• Albinder Singh Dhindsa,  CEO of Blinkit, has been appointed CEO and Key Managerial Personnel of the company with effect from February 1, 2026.

About Deepinder Goyal:
Profile: He started his professional journey as a management consultant at Bain & Company.
Zomato: In 2008, he co-founded Zomato Ltd. and served as its CEO since inception. The company went public in 2021, and in 2025, the holding entity was rebranded as Eternal Ltd. to represent its expanded business ecosystem.
Board Role Post-Resignation: He will remain on the Board of Directors (BoD) as Vice Chairman, pending approval from the shareholders.

Tata Communications Appoints Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as MD & CEO 
In January 2026, Tata Communications Limited announced the appointment of Ganesh Lakshminarayanan, former Airtel Business executive, as its Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

• He will succeed the current MD & CEO, A. S. Lakshminarayanan, who will retire on 13 April 2026.

About Ganesh Lakshminarayanan:
Experience: Over 30 years of international management experience across technology, telecommunications, multinational corporations, Business-to-Business (B2B) start-ups, and Indian enterprises.
Current Role: Served as MD and Group Vice President for ServiceNow India and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region.
Airtel Leadership: Former CEO of Airtel Business, India, and Head of Airtel’s Enterprise Business Unit.
Industry Leadership: He has been elected twice to the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) Executive Council and has also served as a council member of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

STATE NEWS

Governments of Odisha and Meghalaya Sign MoU to Strengthen ECCED
On January 20, 2026, The Governments of Odisha and Meghalaya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Bhubaneswar (Odisha) to enhance cooperation in Early Childhood Care, Education and Development (ECCED) through inter-state collaboration, focusing on mutual learning and best practice exchange

Key Details of the MoU:
Signatories: The MoU was signed by Sampath Kumar, Principal Secretary, Meghalaya, and Ananta Narayan Singh Laguri, Additional Secretary, Women & Child Development, Odisha.

ECCED Focus Areas:

• Nutrition and health interventions for early years.
• Early learning programs and responsive care giving.
• Community engagement and institutional strengthening.

Holistic Childhood Interventions: It covers holistic early childhood interventions, including nutrition, health services, early learning and education, responsive caregiving, community engagement, and institutional capacity building for state officials and frontline workers.
Knowledge Exchange Support: The MoU provides a structured framework which will support knowledge exchange, joint research, exposure visits, documentation of best practices, and training for personnel at various levels.

Assam Govt Announces ‘Atal Vichal Agragami Assam Scheme’ for Research Scholars
In January 2026, Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the ‘Atal Vichal Agragami Assam’ scheme to support research scholars in the state by providing monthly financial assistance.

• Under the scheme, research scholars will receive Rs 25,000 per month, while Divyang research scholars will be granted Rs 40,000 per month.

Atal Vichal Agragami Assam Scheme:
Aim: The scheme aims to strengthen Assam’s education and skill development, advancing national goals of research, innovation, and self-reliance.
Implementation: The scheme is implemented by the Directorate of Employment and Craftsmen Training under the Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department, Government of Assam.
Eligibility: Permanent residents of Assam enrolled in full-time Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) programmes at Central or State Universities within Assam are eligible.
Coverage: The monthly assistance covers academic requirements such as research materials, fieldwork, data collection, and living expenses during the research tenure.
Application: Eligible candidates can apply through the online portal, and the scheme is scheduled for official launch on 11 February 2026.

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